In the Dutchess County Spotlight
Day of Discovery: Meet Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson himself visits Mount Gulian Historic Site on Sunday, October 11, from noon until 4pm.
"A Day of Discovery" opens with Henry Hudson, portrayed by Don Thompson, as he reviews the hallenges of his 1609 voyage on the Half Moon. Thompson, in 17th century costume, displays some of the 17th century's primitive navigational tools and charts, similar to those used by Hudson. This begins an afternoon of Quadricentennial programming for the entire family.
Storyteller, author and director of the Center for Algonquin Culture, Evan Pritchard, takes the stage at 1:30pm to discuss the impact on Native American culture of Hudson and other early explorers. Their arrival in the region was not unexpected, Pritchard believes.
Youngsters can choose to join in a role-playing activity that has Native Americans and Europeans trying to communicate without language.
At 2:30pm, Pritchard takes the position of Native Americans while Thompson stays in character as Hudson during a debate about land ownership, law and culture. The program concludes at 3:15pm with a tour of the Mount Gulian house and Dutch barn.
Saugerties resident Pritchard is of Micmac and Celtic descent. His newest book, "Henry Hudson and the Algonquins of New York: Native American Prophecy and European Discovery, 1609", was published this month by Council Oaks Books. He's also the author of "Native New Yorkers, No Word for Time and Native American Stories of the Sacred".
Thompson lives in Lake Bomoseen, VT, but grew up in Tappan, NY. He taught social studies for 34 years. In retirement, he began doing historic interpretations, first for the Ste. Marie among the Iroquois Living History Museum in Liverpool, NY. In 2008, he and his wife Carol collaborated on a biography of Samuel de Champlain and Henry Hudson for young people.
Mount Gulian is located at 145 Sterling Street, Beacon. Admission is $8; $6 seniors; and $5 children. Sponsors include the Quadricentennial Commission and Stewart's Shops. For information, visit www.mountgulian.org or call 845/831-8172.
